Earl of Hertford

Earl of Hertford
Name	Earl of Hertford
Creation date	1138 (first creation)
Monarch	Stephen, King of England
Peerage	Peerage of England
First holder	Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Hertford
Present holder	Henry Somerset, 12th Duke of Beaufort (courtesy title)
Heir apparent	Robert Somerset, Lord Herbert
Remainder to	1st Duke's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles	Marquess of Worcester, Baron Beaufort
Extinction date	1314 (first creation), 1675 (second creation)
Family seat	Badminton House

Earl of Hertford is a title that has been created three times in the Peerage of England. It is currently used as a courtesy title by the heir apparent to the Duke of Beaufort. The title is historically associated with several prominent noble families, including the de Clares, the Seymours, and the Somersets, linking it to key events in English history from the Anarchy of King Stephen's reign through the Tudor period and the English Civil War.

History of the title

The first creation of the title was in the 12th century during the tumultuous reign of Stephen, King of England. The title has historically been associated with the county of Hertfordshire, with its namesake town of Hertford being a significant administrative center. Over the centuries, the title has been subsumed into higher dukedoms, notably the Dukedom of Somerset and the Dukedom of Beaufort. Its holders have been involved in major conflicts including the Wars of the Roses, the Rough Wooing, and the Battle of Edgehill, reflecting the title's enduring political and military significance within the Peerage of England.

Earls of Hertford, first creation (1138)

The title was first created in 1138 for Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Hertford, a powerful Anglo-Norman magnate and supporter of Stephen, King of England. The title remained in the de Clare family through the Anarchy and into the reign of Henry II. The line continued with Richard de Clare and Gilbert de Clare, who were major figures in the Barons' War. The title became extinct in 1314 upon the death of Gilbert de Clare, who was also the Earl of Gloucester and was killed at the Battle of Bannockburn fighting for Edward II.

Earls of Hertford, second creation (1537)

The second creation was in 1537 for Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, the brother of Jane Seymour, third wife of Henry VIII. He was a central figure in the Tudor period, later becoming the Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector during the minority of his nephew, Edward VI. His son, Edward Seymour, was a prominent courtier. The title was forfeited in 1552 following the Duke of Somerset's execution but was briefly restored before being forfeited again after his son's involvement in the Lady Jane Grey affair. It was ultimately restored to the family, passing to William Seymour, who was also created Marquess of Hertford and later Duke of Somerset. The title merged with the dukedom and became extinct in 1675.

Earls of Hertford, third creation (1559)

The third creation was in 1559 for Edward Seymour, a grandson of the first Earl of the second creation. This title was a new grant from Elizabeth I. His secret marriage to Lady Catherine Grey, a potential claimant to the throne, caused a major scandal and led to his imprisonment in the Tower of London. The title passed to his son, Edward Seymour, and then to William Seymour, who inherited the second creation's dukedom, causing the earldom to merge with the Dukedom of Somerset. In the 19th century, the title was revived as a courtesy title for the heir of the Duke of Beaufort, after the 11th Duke inherited the Seymour claim through the House of Somerset.

Family seat and properties

The historic seat associated with the Seymour Earls of Hertford was Tottenham House in Wiltshire and later Berry Pomeroy Castle in Devon. The principal seat of the Duke of Beaufort, whose heir uses the Earl of Hertford title, is Badminton House in Gloucestershire, a grand estate famous for hosting the Badminton Horse Trials. Other significant properties historically linked to holders include Syon House in Middlesex, the traditional home of the Duke of Somerset, and Wulfhall in Wiltshire, the ancestral home of the Seymour family.

In popular culture

Holders of the title have been depicted in various historical dramas and novels. Edward Seymour, Lord Protector appears in television series such as *The Tudors* and *The Six Wives of Henry VIII*. The secret marriage of the 1st Earl of the third creation to Lady Catherine Grey has been featured in Philippa Gregory's novels and the BBC series *The Virgin Queen*. The Duke of Beaufort's seat, Badminton House, is frequently referenced in literature and was used as a military hospital during the Second World War, as depicted in some historical accounts.

Category:Earls in the Peerage of England Category:Dukes of Beaufort